Pioneer DEH 3800 Versus Pioneer DEH 6800, Choose The Car Stereo that is Right for You

Looking for a new aftermarket radio for you vehicle? Besides the model numbers, do you know which Pioneer stereo is right for you? Let's take a look at two popular models - the Pioneer DEH 3800 and the 6800.

We begin with the Pioneer DEH 3800. This $118 unit features a sleek gray color with just a few necessary buttons. It looks great and is very easy to use, even when driving. It has a purple-character screen on the right of the unit that is easy to read, day or night. Some of the other colors featured in the screen's display are green and red. In the middle of the unit is a round turn knob. By turning it, you control your volume level. By pushing it in, you switch between sources, such as radio, IPod, CD. Hold it in for a few seconds, and you are turning your unit on and off. On the far left side of the unit are four smaller buttons in basically North, East, South, West positions, or also known as up, down, right, and left. This unit is very simple and to the point. The functions are very self-explanatory and easy to understand. The Pioneer DEH 3800 has quality sound as well. It is rated as 50x4, is able to play burned CDs, and there's a hookup behind the radio for connecting your Ipod. The one drawback I found with this model Pioneer is its lack of a front accessory input connection. The faceplate is removable, but does not include a case for keeping it.

The Pioneer DEH 6800 is awesome! At $160, this Pioneer stereo has many more features than the 3800. With the DEH 6800, you will have to read the manual to ever figure out how to operate this stereo. The gray unit has a bright blue screen and lettering. At night, the screen can be so bright that it's blinding. You can choose a background design that acts kind of like a screensaver for the unit. You can choose to have the screen display a drive through the city, dolphins swimming, ocean waves crashing, just to name a few. There again is a round knob that controls the volume, two flat buttons that control the DEH 6800 functions, and a few more tiny buttons that have their own special operations. Like the 3800, the 6800 has small buttons along the bottom of the unit that serve as presets for your radio tuner. With the 6800 you can also adjust and personalize your musical experience a lot more than the 3800. For example, you have a large assortment of subwoofer settings. The 3800 does not give you the subwoofer ranges that this DEH 6800 does. In closing, the DEH 6800 allows users to plug IPods and satellite radios directly into the front input jack on the unit.

Pioneer has been a leading name in auto stereo equipment for decades. Their DEH 3800 and 6800 further prove their outstanding quality stereos! You can find both units in most stores such as Best Buy, Circuit City, and Walmart, and also online. For the price, the 3800 is a great buy for its simplicity. However, if you plan to hook up a lot of extras to your stereo or add a subwoofer and amp, then the 6800 has more to offer you.